I'VE BLOWN EUR555M
DAVID GARDNER in Los AngelesMIKE Tyson is EUR14million in debt after spending more than EUR555million on high living.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion said: "I've blown almost half a billion dollars in my career, but money don't be a big issue for me. I like a good time more than money. I need the fancy cars to get the fancy women. Shouldn't I enjoy my life?"
Tyson's amazing spending spree - detailed below - is revealed in a report filed at a New York court in his legal battle with promoter Don King. He accuses King of "diverting" more than EUR46million into his own accounts. The boxer's training expenses cost EUR7.13million and legal fees and lawsuit settlements about EUR7million. When Tyson visited Britain in January 2000 he spent EUR1.55million on jewellery.
Tyson, 36, fights Britain's world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, also 36, next Saturday. They stand to net EUR18.6 million each from the fight in Memphis, plus millions as a percentage of pay-per- view takings and a promise of a money-spinning return bout.
Tyson is said to owe two TV companies EUR14 million.
He told his accountant: "I can't have money and not spend it."
Wallets out, Round Spree
In 33 months between 1995 and 97 Tyson spent:
EUR8.4mon personal expenses, defined as "walking-around money"" EUR7.3mon training expenses EUR184,947 on cars/motorbikes EUR1.6m pluson car insurance/ repairs EUR1,118,482on new cars as gifts for 15 women and two men EUR8,000 a month on mobile phone and pager bills. EUR444,000on his 1,000 pigeons and dozens of cats EUR100,000 a month on jewellery and clothes EUR444,000 on a birthday party in 1996 EUR334,790 on cutting the lawns at his Las Vegas home EUR366,953 on lawns at his Ohio house and a mere EUR108,708 at his mansion in Connecticut
I'M SICK OF BEING A FREAK SHOW, SAYS TYSON: PAGES 76-77
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